If you are the proud owner of an e-store, you might already be running Magento or may decide to use Magento as the CMS of your choice. However, you need to bear in mind that Magento-websites should be hosted on servers that are reliable, fast, and risk-free. There are a number of Magento hosting services out there, and it can become a tad confusing for companies to choose the right one.
Often, they wonder how to choose the best Magento hosting, and are left wondering more, when they realize they need to update to Magento 2. It is important to note that the hosting service provider should be able to run Magento 2 efficiently, considering this is the latest version, and all previous versions of Magento will lose support from next year. Check out Why People love Magento 2!
In this article, let us take a look at how you can choose the best Magento 2 hosting service, and what you need to keep in mind before selecting the right vendor.
1. Choose a Managed Hosting
Many organizations often opt for self-service hosting, which allows them to handle the servers themselves. However, it is not possible for all e-commerce business owners to possess the kind of technical know-how that is required to run self-service hosting. Instead, opt for managed hosting, as that will allow you to vest all the responsibilities in your vendor. Your vendor will take care of technical issues, updates, and fix any bugs that may arise.
2. Invest in a Dedicated Server, If you can Afford
While a shared service is certainly cheaper than other types, it comes with a number of limitations. If you receive high traffic, you may not be able to scale properly. Secondly, if the server is attacked, all websites that share the space will be attacked, leading to security issues. A dedicated server can prove to be pricey but is the best option for eCommerce stores. Moreover, you can also install any application you might want to install, whereas, on a shared server, the vendor may disagree to certain kinds of applications.
3. Ensure Hosting Supports Magento 2.0
The most important thing you need to do is to check that your hosting provider is compatible with Magento 2. Magento 2 has certain technical requirements such as Apache web server 2.2 and 2.4, PHP 5.5 and above, varnish, and at least 1GB RAM for every 2,500 people who visit your website per day. You will also need to have some RAM for MySQL queries and other processes. Speak to your vendor and make sure that they understand what your requirements are, and ensure that they are compatible with Magento 2.
4. Look for Companies with Great Customer Support
It cannot be stressed enough that customer service is one of the most important criteria while choosing Magento 2 hosting. There will always be times when you need help with your website, or when something is just not working the way it should. You should be able to reach your vendor 24/7, and there should be a written assurance that you will get dedicated customer service. Always make sure to choose a hosting service that promises dedicated customer service, even if it is going to cost you a little more than average.
5. Inquire about Security
A web store is vulnerable to many kinds of threats. As your customers’ payments will go to your website, you need to make sure that your hosting service is as secure as possible. Even if your website is secure, and you choose the most Secure Magento 2 theme, your hosting account may pose vulnerabilities to your website. Make sure that your vendor is PCI compliant and has all the necessary security-related certificates.
6. Seek Agile Hosting
Your hosting plan should be agile, and you should be able to build up as your store grows. Magento 2 is great in a way, because it allows ecommerce store owners to gradually build their stores, and get ready for increasing traffic and probably, an increasing inventory and product catalogue as well. Your hosting agency should be able to help you scale as well, and agile hosting ensures that you can always scale your store as you grow. Start with a basic plan, if you do not have a large store, but keep in mind that you may eventually grow to be much larger than you expected initially.
7. Backup Plans
Many hosting vendors also offer attractive backup options, and this is something that you should always look at. There are times when stores may lose information or you may have to go back to the previous version of a file. It is important to choose a backup plan so that your store is always backed up, and you have at least a few copies of previous versions of your store. A number of times, vendors do not provide backup services, and that can result in unnecessary confusion and expenditure for clients.
8. Certifications and Partnerships
It is always important to make sure that your Magento 2 hosting provider has the necessary certifications and partnerships. Official Magento partnership is a great way to ensure that your hosting service is compliant with the latest version, and that there is always support available when required. However, if that is not available, at least make sure that the vendor uses industry-grade servers, and that they are compliant with the latest security best practices. Most of the times, clients choose wrong hosting service providers because they often fall for gimmicky marketing, and fail to look for certifications and partnerships.
Choosing the Right Hosting is not as Difficult as you may Imagine
Magento 2 is already available, and most businesses are recommended to move their stores to the latest version. As mentioned previously, earlier versions of Magento will no longer be supported, and ecommerce store owners should start moving their stores to the latest version as soon as possible. However, while doing so, it is important to choose the right hosting.
Make sure that your hosting service is managed, and that you opt for dedicated servers if you can afford. Ensure that your hosting provider supports Magento 2.0, and look for great customer service, top-notch security, scalability, and a good backup plan. Last but not the least; ensure that your vendor provides excellent service by opting for agencies with necessary certifications and partnerships.
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